Apparatus for evacuating fluid from a chamber

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for evacuating liquid from a chamber by means of a pressure differential comprising a chassis having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive a liquid containing chamber, at least one conduit communicating from within the chassis to an exterior surface thereof, the conduit passing through at least some of the recesses, the recesses being provided with receiving means adapted to receive a valve means, the valve means being provided with holding means for receiving a liquid holding chamber. Application of vacuum means to the external terminus of the conduit or of pressure to the liquid containing chamber causes liquid in the liquid containing chamber to pass through the valve into the recess and through the conduit. The apparatus may be used for diagnostic kits wherein a resin within the liquid containing chamber must be washed with water or wherein radioactive solutions in the liquid containing camber are loaded into generator columns.

United States Patent 1 Czaplinski Dec. 11, 1973 1 1 APPARATUS FOR EVACUATING FLUID FROM A CHAMBER Thomas V. Czaplinski, North Brunswick, NJ.

[73] Assignee: E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.,

Princeton, NJ.

[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,735

[75] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,798 11/1961 Whitehead et al 23/230 R Primary ExaminerHenry T. Klinksiek Att0rney-Lawrence S. Levinson et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for evacuating liquid from a chamber by means of a pressure differential comprising a chassis having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive a liquid containing chamber, at least one conduit communicating from within the chassis to an exterior surface thereof, the conduit passing through at least some of the recesses, the recesses being provided with receiving means adapted to receive a valve means, the valve means being provided with holding means for receiving a liquid holding chamber. Application of vacuum means to the external terminus of the conduit or of pressure to the liquid containing chamber causes liquid in the liquid containing chamber to pass through the valve into the recess and through the conduit. The apparatus may be used for diagnostic kits wherein a resin within the liquid containing chamber must be washed with water or wherein radioactive solutions in the liquid containing camber are loaded into generator columns.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnsc 1 I I975 FIG. I

APPARATUS FOR EVACUATING FLUID FROM A CHAMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus wherein a plurality of liquid containing chambers may be evacuated simultaneously by means of a pressure differential. Another object is to provide a method wherein a plurality of liquid containing chambers may be evacuated simultaneously by means of a pressure differential. These and other objects will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a chassis having a top 10a, bottom 10b, sides 10c and 10d, front 10e and back 10f, and provided with a plurality of recesses 11. A conduit 12 extends from within the chassis and terminates at or beyond the exterior surface thereof. The conduit passes through at least some of the recesses 11, preferably near the bottom of the recesses. The top of each recess through which the conduit passes is fitted with receiving means 13. The receiving means 13 comprises a flexible tubing having an annular flange 14 which extends beyond the circumference of the recess and rests upon the top 10a of the chassis 10. The receiving means 13 is also provided with a second annular flange 15 which contacts the interior wall 16 of the recess. The receiving means 13 is adapted to receive valve means 17 having member 18. When member 18 is in a vertical position, valve means 17 is open, and when member 18 is in a horizontal position, valve means 17 is shut. Adapter 19 comprising a hollow stem 20 connected to an open top cylinder 21 fits into the conduit 22 in member 18. Cylinder 21 is adapted to receive a cylindrical projection 23 at the bottom of chamber 24. When the cylindrical projection 23 of chamber 24 is inserted in cylinder 2], liquid in chamber 24 may be evacuated by applying vacuum to the exterior terminus 12a of conduit 12 or by applying pressure to chamber 24.

Alternatively, receiving means 13 may be eliminated and the valve means 17 made of such size as to be maintained in the recess by a press-fit or by adhesive means, e.g., glue.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for washing material confined in a chamber comprising a chassis having a multiplicity of material holding recesses, a conduit formed in said chassis providing fluid connection between said recesses, said conduit open to the exterior of said chassis, fluid reservoir means which selectively passes fluid into said recesses to wash said material, and means to apply a pressure differential between said recesses and said conduit opening, whereby upon the application of said pressure differential, said fluid is washed through said recesses via said conduit and is discharged through said opening.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the pressure at said conduit opening is reduced relative to the pressure at the recesses.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including fitment means connecting said conduit with the exterior of said chassis at which fitment means the reduced pressure is applied.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure at said recesses is increased relative to the pressure at said conduit opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein individual reservoir means are mounted on said chassis adjacently above each recess, each reservoir adapted to supply fluid to its adjacent recess.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein said fluid reservoir means includes valve means adjustable between flow and no flow positions.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein said valve means comprises a fitting having a fluid passage therein, and a valve stem rotatably journaled into said fitting and having a fluid passage therewithin adapted to pass fluid into said fitting fluid passage when said valve stem is positioned such that the respective fluid passages are aligned in the flow position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including adapter means connected to said valve stem adapted to carry thereon a fluid container.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein individual reservoirs are mounted on said chassis adjacently above each recess, each reservoir being adapted to supply fluid to its adjacent recess, said fluid reservoir means includes valve means adjustable between flow and no flow positions, said valve means comprising a fitting having a fluid passage therein, and a valve stem rotatably journaled into said fitting and having a fluid passage therewithin adapted to pass fluid into said fitting fluid passage when said valve stem is positioned such that the respective fluid passages are aligned, adapter means connected to said valve stem adapted to carry thereon a fluid container and fitment means connecting said conduit with the exterior of said chassis.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,777,7 0 Dated December 11, 1973 Thomas V. Czaplinski. I

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 6 should be dependent on claim l Claim 9 shefild be dependent on claim 1 Signed end' sealed this 11th day of June 19714.. 7'

(SEAL) Attest: EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. MARSHALLFDANN' Atteesting Officer 7 Commia siener of Patents FORM P9405) (1049) uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 I 9 ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINT NG OFFICE 7 "9 -S'3J 4, 

1. Apparatus for washing material confined in a chamber comprising a chassis having a multiplicity of material holding recesses, a conduit formed in said chassis providing fluid connection between said recesses, said conduit open to the exterior of said chassis, fluid reservoir means which selectively passes fluid into said recesses to wash said material, and means to apply a pressure differential between said recesses and said conduit opening, whereby upon the application of said pressure differential, said fluid is washed through said recesses via said conduit and is discharged through said opening.
 2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the pressure at said conduit opening is reduced relative to the pressure at the recesses.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 including fitment means connecting said conduit with the exterior of said chassis at which fitment means the reduced pressure is applied.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure at said recesses is increased relative to the pressure at said conduit opening.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein individual reservoir means are mounted on said chassis adjacently above each recess, each reservoir adapted to supply fluid to its adjacent recess.
 6. The apparatus recited in claim 6 wherein said fluid reservoir means includes valve means adjustable between flow and no flow positions.
 7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein said valve means comprises a fitting having a fluid passage therein, and a valve stem rotatably journaled into said fitting and having a fluid passage therewithin adapted to pass fluid into said fitting fluid passage when said valve stem is positioned such that the respective fluid passages are aligned in the flow position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 including adapter means connected to said valve stem adapted to carry thereon a fluid container.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein individual reservoirs are mounted on said chassis adjacently above each recess, each reservoir being adapted to supply fluid to its adjacent recess, said fluid reservoir means includes valve means adjustable between flow and no flow positions, said valve means comprising a fitting having a fluid passage therein, and a valve stem rotatably journaled into said fitting and having a fluid passage therewithin adapted to pass fluid into said fitting fluid passage when said valve stem is positioned such that the respective fluid passages are aligned, adapter means connected to said valve stem adapted to carry thereon a fluid container and fitment means connecting said conduit with the exterior of said chassis. 